Cheltenham Festival
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Gordon Elliott has warned punters Champion Bumper ante-post favourite Don Cossack is "very doubtful" to make the journey to the Cheltenham Festival.
Since finishing fifth on his debut last spring, the five-year-old has turned in two impressive performances this season, winning by a full 18 lengths at Naas before landing a Grade Two prize at Navan last month.
Both Stan James and bet365 have the gelding at the head of their market for the big bumper at Cheltenham, but Elliott does not believe it is the right way to go with his exciting youngster.
"He's fine, but I'd say it's very doubtful he'll go to Cheltenham," said Elliott.
"He's done very well to win his two races this season, but he's nice horse with a big future and he'll either have just one more run this season or he won't run at all."
One Elliott inmate who is likely to cross the Irish Sea to line up at Prestbury Park in March is novice hurdler Mount Benbulben.
After winning in impressive fashion twice, the gelding suffered an odds-on reverse in Grade One company last time, but his trainer feels there were genuine excuses.
"We found he had a few back problems after his last run and he came back very stiff, but he's fine now," the trainer added.
"He could go straight to Cheltenham for the Albert Bartlett without having another run."
Since finishing fifth on his debut last spring, the five-year-old has turned in two impressive performances this season, winning by a full 18 lengths at Naas before landing a Grade Two prize at Navan last month.
Both Stan James and bet365 have the gelding at the head of their market for the big bumper at Cheltenham, but Elliott does not believe it is the right way to go with his exciting youngster.
"He's fine, but I'd say it's very doubtful he'll go to Cheltenham," said Elliott.
"He's done very well to win his two races this season, but he's nice horse with a big future and he'll either have just one more run this season or he won't run at all."
One Elliott inmate who is likely to cross the Irish Sea to line up at Prestbury Park in March is novice hurdler Mount Benbulben.
After winning in impressive fashion twice, the gelding suffered an odds-on reverse in Grade One company last time, but his trainer feels there were genuine excuses.
"We found he had a few back problems after his last run and he came back very stiff, but he's fine now," the trainer added.
"He could go straight to Cheltenham for the Albert Bartlett without having another run."
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O'Leary also warned Gigginstown are unlikely to have any runners in the Champion Bumper at the Festival for the foreseeable future.
The leading owners currently have Don Cossack and recent Naas winner Un Atout towards the head of the market, but have a general policy of not having runners in a race which they consider hard on young horses. "I doubt he'll (Un Atout) will be going to Cheltenham anyway," said O'Leary. "We have the first two in the betting for the Champion Bumper with Un Atout and Don Cossack but unless something seriously changes, I don't think either of them will be going. "It's just a race we don't particularly like as we think it can ruin a good young horse." |
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i would say he has a point there,where are all the recent bumper winners aside from Cue Card??
Dunguib Cousin Vinny Cheltenian all injured i believe. |
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Yup all injured - fair play to Gigginstown imo thinkin of the future rather than the now and its payin off for em with some exciting young horses
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yep,totally agree.
They certainly have plenty,and the festival last year was littered with their runners and a fair amount of them ran bl00dy well. |